Manitowoc County's Pine River Pre-Pack makes award-winning cheese spreads. Take a look inside the facility to see how it turns blocks of cheese into some of Wisconsin's favorite spreads.
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Meat Product Competition is the largest of its kind in the United States. Meat processing plants and meat markets from throughout the state entered 932 individual products into 36 product categories, including summer sausage, bratwurst, ham, bacon, smoked poultry and a variety of other types of meat products. More than 40 judges — including food scientists, out-of-state meat processors and other food industry professionals — were required to evaluate the many products during the product evaluation session April 7. Individual products are scored for external appearance and eye appeal, internal appearance, aroma and taste, using a scale of 1,000 points.

Newton Meats is at 5616 County Road U in Newton and can be reached at 920-726-4455 or online at newtonmeatsinc.com.

“The ingredients in Cold Pack Cheese are blended without the use of heat,” said Pine River’s General Manager Ian Behm. “This specialized blending technique allows us to maintain the delicate, spicy Pepper Jack flavor, while transforming it into a convenient spread to be enjoyed on pretzels, tacos or a sandwich.”

Pepper Jack also took first place at the 2018 World Championship Cheese Contest.

This year, the United States Championship Cheese Contest, hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, had a record-setting 2,555 entries from 35 states. The highly competitive biennial contest is the largest technical evaluation of cheese, butter and yogurt in the country. Over the course of two days, judges evaluate entries across 116 classes on flavor, body and texture, salt, color, finish and packaging. Awards were presented at a ceremony April 18 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.

Pine River's Pepper Jack Cold Pack Cheese Spread(Photo: Provided)

Bank First merger with Partnership Bank gets regulatory approval

Bank First National Corporation, holding company for Bank First, N.A., announced it recently received approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve and the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions to merge Partnership Community Bancshares, Inc., parent company of Partnership Bank, into Bank First.

“The approvals from the OCC, Federal Reserve and WDFI come at a great time for Bank First,” said Mike Molepske, president and chief executive officer of Bank First. “The transition teams at both Partnership Bank and Bank First have been working diligently to ensure the merger occurs smoothly and in a timely manner for our valued customers, and we look forward to bringing two strong organizations together as one.”

Partnership will seek approval of the merger from its shareholders at a special meeting June 11. Subject to that approval, the merger of the two organizations is scheduled for July 12. The systems conversion would occur over that weekend, and the Cedarburg, Mequon, Tomah and Watertown branches would open as Bank First branches on July 15.

Bank First National office on Custer Street in Manitowoc.(Photo: Courtesy of A.C.E. Building Service)

A.C.E. Building Service selected for Country Visions renovation

Manitowoc's A.C.E. Building Service has been selected as the design/build contractor for the renovation of Country Visions Convenience Store in Branch.

At 8133 U.S. Highway 10, the project will feature an interior renovation to the existing store, updated store layout, mechanical and lighting updates, and new asphalt paving. The project will be completed in phases and will remain open to customers for the duration of the project.

Country Visions Cooperative is based in Reedsville. Its convenience stores are in Branch, De Pere, Manitowoc Rapids, Mishicot, Reedsville and Valders.

Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice opens Manitowoc field office

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held April 17 at the new field office for Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice, 4411 Calumet Ave., Suite 4, Manitowoc.

Assisting Eric Tetzlaff, administrator, with the ribbon-cutting was the team of caregivers, Chamber Executive Director Karen Nichols, members of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, Chamber Ambassadors, friends, family and guests from the community.

Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice is an independent, nonprofit hospice that provides compassionate care and quality of life to all in need wherever a patient calls home — in their own residence, assisted living or nursing home.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new field office for Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice, 4411 Calumet Ave., Suite 4, Manitowoc.(Photo: Provided)

Festival Foods raises $73,531 for MDA

More than 32 Festival Foods locations in Wisconsin — including the one at 2151 S. 42nd St., Manitowoc — teamed with customers to raise $73,531 to help transform the lives of kids and adults with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related muscle-debilitating diseases during the 37th annual MDA Shamrocks program to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

March 10-24, Festival Foods locations participated in the nation’s largest St. Patrick’s Day fundraising program in which customers and associates purchased an MDA Shamrock at check-out for $1, $5 or larger contribution. Each Shamrock was signed by the customer and prominently displayed in each store.

In the past four years, Festival Foods and its customers have raised more than $314,593 to help MDA provide the families it serves with critical resources and support to fulfill life goals.

Cash the Frog joins Bank First corporate headquarters in Manitowoc

Bank First is welcoming "Cash the Frog" to the Manitowoc community.

Cash is a one-of-a-kind copper frog that recently made its way to Bank First to reside permanently. In January 2019, Bank First announced a plan to merge with Partnership Bank, with headquarters in Cedarburg. Partnership Bank has a family of copper frogs, with each member residing at one of its four locations. The Partnership Bank serves have embraced these mascots, and members of the community enjoy stopping by to visit them.

Bank First has added one of the frogs to its corporate headquarters at 402 N. Eighth St., Manitowoc, and invites the community to stop by to have their picture taken with him and tag Bank First on Facebook.

Bank First is inviting the community to stop at its corporate headquarters, 402 N. Eighth St., Manitowoc, to have their photo taken with Cash the Frog and tag Bank First on Facebook.(Photo: Provided)

Bank First announces net income for first quarter

Bank First National Corporation, the holding company for Bank First, N.A., reported net income of $6.6 million, or $1 per share, for the first quarter of 2019, compared with net income of $7.1 million, or $1.05 per share, for the respective prior-year period.

Bank First’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of 20 cents per common share, payable on July 8, to shareholders of record as of June 24.

Grossklaus joins UnitedOne as senior business loan specialist

Jason Grossklaus(Photo: Provided)

UnitedOne Credit Union has added Jason Grossklaus as its senior business loan specialist.

Grossklaus brings 14 years of credit union experience to UnitedOne, including previously working as a business loan officer at Altra Federal Credit Union in La Crosse.

The Eau Claire native is immersing himself in the lakeshore communities UnitedOne serves, becoming a board member of Progress Lakeshore and an ambassador for Manitowoc’s Chamber of Commerce.

Grossklaus can be reached at 920-652-2572 or jgrossklaus@UnitedOne.org.

UnitedOne Credit Union has branches in Manitowoc and Sheboygan, and is open to everyone living or working in Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Kewaunee and Door counties. More info: UnitedOne.org.

Ben Cress joins sales team at Heritage Real Estate, Inc.

Ben Cress has joined the sales team at Manitowoc's Heritage Real Estate, Inc.

Ben Cress(Photo: Ben Cress and STUDIO BC LLC)

In his new role, Cress will utilize more than 20 years of marketing and design experience to help Heritage Real Estate's commercial and residential clients creatively market property and "close every deal with style."

Cress holds a bachelor's in industrial design from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He served as the creative force behind the Riverbank Lounge and his current design consulting firm, Studio BC, is celebrating its 10th anniversary in business in Manitowoc.

Weichert, Realtors - CornerStone in Two Rivers has announced the following as 2018 Office Award winners for sales achievement: Bridget VanGinkel, Judith Ferry, Kristine Pigeon and Michele Vogel.

The Realtors were honored by the national franchise organization, Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., based on achieving specified production requirements in gross commission income or units earned in 2018. Winning Weichert-affiliated agents earned their recognition from among associates in 38 states at the year's end.

Weichert, Realtors - CornerStone is at 2205 Forest Ave., Suite 200, Two Rivers, and can be reached at 920-593-2030.

Chamber offers programs on digital advertising, risk management

"Digital Advertising: How to Target Anyone, Anywhere at Anytime" will be presented by Joe Mathes of Delta Digital Strategies from noon to 1 p.m. May 21 in the auditorium at Orion Energy Systems, 2210 Woodlawn Drive, Manitowoc. Lunch will be provided. Admission is free for Chamber of Manitowoc County members and $25 for non-Chamber members.

"Lunch & Learn: Risk Management Part 1" — a discussion on risk awareness, risk management, and what new risks are out there that you may not be considering — will be presented by John Vose of Ansay & Associates from noon to 1 p.m. May 9. The presentation will be at Lester Public Library, 1001 Adams St., Two Rivers. Lunch will be provided. Admission is free for Chamber members, $25 for non-Chamber members.

For more about the presentations, contact The Chamber of Manitowoc County at 920-684-5575.

Allstates Rigging secretary celebrates four years

Allstates Rigging's secretary, Sue Garceau, will celebrate her four-year anniversary with the Two Rivers company on May 1.